Whether she is fundraising for the Country Women's Association (CWA) or taking care of her foster kids, Kellie McKinlay-Hughes has made a big contribution to the outback town of Tennant Creek.

Key Points:

Kellie McKinlay-Hughes and her husband became foster carers

Ms McKinlay-Hughes started a craft club after noticing kids needed something else to do

She has been nominated as a Local Hero in the Australia Day Awards

The shop owner moved to remote Central Australia with her family three years ago and has now been honoured as a community champion.

When Ms McKinlay-Hughes and her husband Matt moved to the town with their four-month-old daughter they were looking to grow their family.

"My mum herself when she was younger had a couple of cousins come live with them for a few years so it was sort of ingrained into us, if someone needed a bed to sleep in you give them a bed to sleep," Ms McKinlay-Hughes said.

While they had discussed the idea of foster care, the pair were shocked to find a shortage of foster carers in the town.

They took in two Indigenous children, a baby and a teenager, which took some adjusting.

"A lot of what we've had to learn is different cultural attitudes. What we think is normal is completely foreign for her," Ms McKinlay-Hughes said.

She said she wanted both her foster children to know their cultural heritage and maintain family connections.

"It's so rewarding. You not only get to see your own culture but you experience your own culture through someone else's eyes," she said.

She also became involved with the local CWA.

"She has a very dry, wicked sense of humour," said Jacinto Netto, friend and member of the Tennant Creek branch of the Country Women's Association.

"She loves her family, she loves her kids and she likes being involved in the community."

Ms McKinlay-Hughes noticed young people in town needed something to do other than sport.

You have no doubt been hearing a lot about the Paris Agreement and know that it pertains to climate change, but are too embarrassed at this stage to ask for an overall explanation of what it's all about.